A39660:206
Englands duty under the present gospel liberty from Revel. III, vers. 20
Englands duty under the present gospel liberty from Revel. III, vers. 20 : wherein is opened the admirable condescension and patience of Christ in waiting upon trifling and obstinate sinners, the wretched state of the unconverted, the nature of evangelical faith ..., the riches of free grace in the offers of Christ ..., the invaluable privileges of union and communion granted to all who receive him ... / by John Flavell ...Englands duty under the present gospel liberty from Revel. III, vers. 20 : wherein is opened the admirable condescension and patience of Christ in waiting upon trifling and obstinate sinners, the wretched state of the unconverted, the nature of evangelical faith ..., the riches of free grace in the offers of Christ ..., the invaluable priviledges of union and communion granted to all who receive him ... / by John Flavell ...
London: printed for Matthew Wotton, 1689
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The first Inference.
Is Christ really Present in all Gospel Administrations, how awfully Solemn then is every part of Gospel ⟨p. 36⟩Worship? We having to do with Christ himself, and not with Men only, in Gospel Ordinances. Happy were it, if, under this Consideration, all our People did receive the Word we Preach, as the Thessalonians did, not as the Word of Man, but as the Word of God, 1 Thes. 2. 13. then it would Work effectually in us as it did in them. But alas! We have loose and low apprehensions of the Word; we come to Judge the Gifts of the Speaker, not to have our Minds informed, our Consciences searched, our Lusts mortified, and our Lives regulated. But oh, that Men would realize the Presence of Christ in Ordinances, and seriously consider that Word of his, Rev. 2. 23. All the Churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the Reins and Hearts, and I will give to every one of you according to your Works.
How would it compose vain and wandering Hearts unto holy seriousness! Oh, if Men would but consider that they are before the Lord Jesus Christ, as Cornelius and his Family did, Acts 10. 33. We are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. If they would consider the Word as the executioner of Gods eternal Decrees which returns not in vain, but accomplishes that whereunto God sends it,